5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing

Looking after your mental health is as important as looking after your physical health – that’s it according to the NHS, in five easy ways to feel more positive and boost your mood, getting the most out of life. Research supports these steps, which really help in building stronger relationships, increasing self-esteem, and finding a sense of purpose. So, here’s how you can start today.

1. Build Stronger Connections with Others

Good relationships are a major contributor to mental well-being and provide a sense of belonging, the ability to share joy, and emotional support. Interacting with other people may also give you a sense of value and importance in life.

Ways to Connect

1. Take Time for Family: Have a set time at night to all eat dinner at the table, or play a game with your children or family members together.
2. Reconnect with Friends: Plan a day out with those friends whom you have not met for a long time.
3. Turn Off the TV: Instead of watching television engage in healthy conversations or play board games with friends or family.
4. Eat with a Colleague: Go for lunch, eating out with one of your colleagues can make good relationships at work.
5. Visit Someone in Need: Spend an evening with a friend or family member who needs it or who is alone at home.
6. Volunteer: Join a local school, hospital, or community group to meet new people, and help others.
7. Using Video Calls: You can call applications like Skype or FaceTime to stay in touch with your friends or family members living far away.

To Avoid

Do not depend on messaging or social media only. Voice and in-person meetings develop much stronger ties.

2. Body Movement

Exercise isn’t just great for your body. It helps improve your mental health by increasing your self-esteem, helping you accomplish your goals, and even getting the brain to release mood-boosting chemicals.

Let’s Get Moving

1. Do What You Love: Who says you need a gym? Try walking, dancing, or playing a sport instead.
2. Make It A Habit: Opt for activities that easily integrate into your life, such as going for a walk every day or practicing yoga at home.
3. Learn Something New: Take a new class at the gym or a craft class. You’ll feel more confident, useful, and social without even realizing it and without a big investment in time or money.

Free Time on Learning

The average person now has more free time with today’s technology. Use some of it to learn something new or take on a hobby you’ve always wanted to try.

Not Strict but Cultural Notes

Small steps lead to adding up to getting the total exercise that you need. All activities are to add up over the course of a day. All activity, not just exercise, helps you stay healthy. At some point during the day try to get in some sort of physical activity when you can.

3. Learn New Skills

1. Cook Something New: Experiment with a new recipe or get to know nutrition.
2. Take on Work Challenges: Provide mentorship to a coworker or further develop your skills, such as in public speaking.
3. Try a DIY Project: Fix up a bike, garden gate using online tutorials on the internet.
4. Sign Up for a Course: Learn a language, plumbing, or some other practical skill at your local college.
5. Pick Up a Hobby: Start a blog, try out some new sport, learn how to paint.

You don’t have to aspire to qualifications or exams. Choose learning pursuits that feel fun and worthwhile.

4. Kindness to Others

Random or planned acts of kindness can raise your mental well-being in ways you never knew existed. Doing for others makes you feel worthy and needed while building quality relationships.

Ways of Kindness

1. Say “Thank You”: Thank someone for doing something for you.
2. Hear What’s Said: Ask family, friends, or even workmates how they are. And then really listen.
3. Care for Others: Pay someone a visit who needs care or company.
4. Help: Lend a hand on a DIY project or task at work.
5. Volunteer: Whether it be in a school, hospital, or an aged care facility within your community.

How It Helps

Even the least of acts, like saying something kind, can give you a sense of being worthwhile and linked with helping other people feel worthwhile.

5. Mindfulness

Being aware is about being present in the moment, noticing what’s going on in your mind, body, and around you, without reacting or judging; being aware helps you have a greater appreciation for life, let you know yourself better, and face challenges with a calm mind.

How You Can Be Mindful

1. Stay Present: Think about your thoughts, body, or the environment in a nonjudgmental way.
2. Try Basic Techniques: Do deep breathing, meditation or a quick body scan to keep focused in the present.
3. Make It a Daily Practice: Be mindful for a few minutes each day, e.g., while eating or walking.

Benefits

Stress reduction, increased concentration, and changing the perception of ‘handling’ life ‘challenges’. Further mindfulness tips can be read on the NHS website.

How These Steps Work

The five steps of connecting, staying active, learning, giving, and being mindful are all scientifically linked to increasing mental well-being. They help you feel more confident, purposeful, and connected to others. You don’t have to do them all at once. Start with one or two that feel manageable, and build from there.

Extra Tips

1. Be Patient: Small changes add up even if they do not show results swiftly. Time is needed for changes to happen.
2. Experiment: Try out things in which you find your lifestyle and interests.
3. Find Help: If you feel like you’re drowning, talk to someone–a friend, a family member, or a professional.

By doing these steps, you would boost your mood and feel happy or more optimistic, and enjoy life. They’re just simple, common-sense ways of looking after your mental health every day.